Paterson to get tough with state Senators

Gov. David Paterson said Sunday he’ll use a statewide tour this week to turn up the heat on senators who remain gridlocked in a monthlong power struggle.

“I have taken advantage of my travel to speak to New Yorkers directly,” Paterson said after the Senate adjourned again following another extraordinary session he called.

He said in separate events over the weekend that New Yorkers’ message was clear: “Don’t let them off the hook. Make them stay and work.”

No bills were debated or passed in Sunday’s 3-minute session.

Two Senate factions continue to refuse to recognize each other’s leaders so no legislative action was made on critical bills, including some that would extend laws that expired during the standoff.

Paterson, a Democrat, said he doesn’t see either side budging in the conflict, which began with a coup June 8 by a Republican-dominated coalition versus the Democratic majority.

Since that meeting, both sides have sought to first work out the mechanics of a power-sharing arrangement, such as reworking the committee system and how to assign bills to a vote.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, Paterson called that “avoidance behavior.”

“You can’t do anything until you settle the leadership,” he said.

Paterson said he will continue to act as a mediator if asked, but he again was critical of both sides and said he continues to push to withhold their paychecks and expense checks until they return to a working session. Paterson, who plans to run for election in 2010, has seen his record-low poll numbers rise when he was sharply critical of the senators, who he said have “ground government to a halt.”

The jammed Senate is now evenly split after one of the dissidents defected back to the Democratic conference. Action on critical bills has been stymied for weeks.

Senators’ staffs are trying to negotiate a compromise in closed-door talks begun after Paterson met with leaders from both sides on Thursday to start mediating a power-sharing solution. Senators from both sides welcomed the offer to mediate and said they were pleased Paterson had stopped criticizing the Senate for the standoff, which consumed the last two productive weeks of the 2009 regular legislative session.

“Talks are continuing, and our goal remains the same: Come to a workable solution that allows the Senate to get back to passing critical legislation,” said Austin Shafran, a spokesman for the Democratic conference.

Mark Hansen, a spokesman for the GOP coalition, said Sunday evening that talks continue, but he had no further comment.

3 comments

NO INCUMBENTS IN 2010. YOU’RE ALL FIRED. If the founding fathers had the ethics and leadership abilities of our current NY Senators we’d all be singing God Save the Queen and 4th of July weekend would have no meaning. Senators, thanks for messing up my state.

I will not re-cast my vote for my state senator in the coming election. Given the bi-partisen stalemate, their message is being received loud and clear. “Party First, The People last”.
The direct effects of their inaction on the issues will have a very real tangible negative impact. I hope others feel the same way. Send a message to Albany that the consequences of their behavior will be severe.

Like I’ve been saying all along. Fire them, fine them and make them spend time in jail for fraud. These jerks have made a mockery of the entire system by acting as if they are supreme beings. They are nothing but a bunch of dispicable, pouting children who deserve to be shown the door. Show some stones Paterson, or I’m sure you’ll be shown the door at election time…!